New FIFA: international football organization begins congress in Mexico

CCTV News

The governing body of global football, FIFA, officially began its 66th Congress in Mexico City on Friday.

CCTV’s Franc Contreras reports from Mexico City.

“New FIFA”: International football organization begins congress in Mexico

“New FIFA”: International football organization begins congress in Mexico

The governing body of global football, FIFA, officially began its 66th Congress in Mexico City on Friday.

FIFA’s 66th Congress took place in the Mexican capital at a crucial time for this organization. New football associations are being added while others face possible elimination.

FIFA’S new president, Gianni Infantino is presiding over his first congress since being elected in February.

“This is a new FIFA, that has changed, that embrace reform that will be a transparent, accountable, trust worthy organization, that works for the exclusive interest of football because football as you know as a great power. It has a great power to do many great things,” Infantino said.

After the discovery of illegal payoffs amounting to millions of dollars, FIFA’S credibility suffered a tremendous blow. That led to the 2015 ouster of previous FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Though Blatter brought vast amounts of revenue to FIFA, he is now banned for six years from participating in FIFA activities.

At the annual congress, discussions also focused on expanding the number of teams participating in the 2026 World Cup up from 32 to 40. That would likely extend the number of days of the tournament.

That would add to the organization’s profits. In 2014, a World Cup year, FIFA made an estimated profit of more than $2 billion.